In a thrilling game between the Red Deer Rebels and the Calgary Hitmen last night, the Rebels managed to snap their seven-game losing streak with a 6-1 victory. The game saw multiple power plays and penalty kills from both teams, with the Rebels capitalizing on their opportunities to secure the win. Notable players from the game include Jhett Larson, Kai Uchacz, and Chase Wutzke, who all contributed to the Rebels’ dominant performance.
Samuel Drancak scored his 8th goal of the season on the Power Play to make it a 1-0 Rebels game at 15:40 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Jhett Larson and Mats Lindgren.–Samuel Drancak opened the scoring for the home side, cashing a rebound at 15:40 of the first period during a Rebels power play
Kai Uchacz skated out spun, shot, and scored his 35th goal of the season with 26 seconds left in the first period. Assist on the goal went to Carson Birnie.– Uchacz potted his 35th of the season from just inside the Calgary blueline, beating a partially screened netminder Ethan Buenaventura in the final minute of the frame.
Shots on goal in the first period were 13-10 Red Deer
Ollie Josephson scored his 8th goal of the season at 5:33 of the middle frame on the Power Play to make it a 3-0 Rebels lead. The assists on the goal going to Hunter Mayo and Kai Uchacz.–The Rebels extended their lead to 3-0 during a power play opportunity 5:33 into the second period. Ollie Josephson swiftly found the net from the right circle, capitalizing on a precise pass across the ice from Hunter Mayo.
Talon Brigley made it a 4-0 game at 9:02 of the middle frame with the assists going to Ollie Josephson and Elias Carmichael.–Just under four minutes later, Talon Brigley hauled in a centering pass from Josephson and beat Buenaventura from close range.
Shots in the second period were 8 each.
Jhett Larson makes it a 5-0 Rebels game at 7:20 of the third period with the assists on the goal to Kia Uchacz and Frantisek Formanek.-Jhett Larson upped the count to 5-0 at 7:30 of the final period, converting a corner pass from Uchacz.
16 year old Coquitlam, BC native Ben Kindel wrecks the shutout at 15:44 of the third period to make it a 5-1 game. With the assists on the goal going to Salmon Arm, BC native Sawyer Mayes and Scottsdale, Arizona native Brandon Grozynski.– the visitors finally broke through when Ben Kindel scored from a scramble.
Zane Saab added another goal to make it 6-1 Rebels on the Power Play with 44 seconds left in the game. The assists on the goal went to Matthew Gard and Dwayne Jean Jr.– Rebels rookie Zane Saab notched his third goal of the season during a late Red Deer power play.
Shots on goal in the third period were 14-12 for the Hitmen. The Rebels outshot the Hitmen in the game 34-32
Chase Wutzke made 31 saves on the 32 shots that he faced for the win for the Rebels. While Winnipeg native Ethan Buenaventura made 28 saves on the 34 shots that he faced for the Hitmen.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Chase Wutzke 2) Jhett Larson 3) Kai Uchacz
Attendance in Red Deer was 2,875
Rebels next game is Friday February 16th when the Edmonton Oil Kings come to town.
Five Hitmen are on NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Term Rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft among North American skaters. Carter Yakemchuk is sixth, Carson Wetsch 44th, Keets Fawcett 163rd, Chase Valliant 195th and Dax Williams 211th. Both Yakemchuk and Wetsch played in 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects game in Moncton, NB.
Carter Yakemchuk is ranked #14th to the Islanders this time at Mynhldraft.com. He is down on the site he was ranked 10th in December and it had him going to Montreal then. Bob McKenzie and Craig Button both have him ranked at 12th.